Top 10 Anime Opening Songs

TV & Film

Mar 31

If you are a fan of anime then you understand the importance of a good opening song. However, if you aren't in that group, let me quickly explain why these songs are so important. Not only do they set up the entire vibe of the season, but they also are typically a good way to judge the quality of the anime. There are very few anime I have watched that were good but had a bad opening song. These songs are so popular that they actually have their own genre called anime songu or anison. The songs are typically done by Japanese pop artists, but there are a few that have singers from the United States and other countries. Most of us have a list of our favorite anime songs, so I decided to put together a list of my top 10. This was the most difficult list I have made to date because there are so many amazing songs!

10. “Ranbu No Melody” - SID

Bleach is a classic anime series that has so many incredible openings, but Ranbu no Melody is by far the best. If we are being honest the classic anime series are not known for having incredible openings (Pokémon is the exception), but Bleach definitely is an outlier thanks to this song. SID created a song that hypes you up and makes you feel like you are ready to fight along with the characters.

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9. “Inferno” - Mrs. Green Apple

Mrs. Green Apple is one of my favorite Japanese bands, if not my very favorite. They have immense talent, and their vocal range is out of this world. Fire Force is such a fun show, and this was definitely the only band that could create the show’s very first opening. The band’s vibe perfectly mirrors that of the main group and makes it feel like the characters are the ones singing.

8. “Work” - Ringo Sheena & Millennium Parade

Ringo Sheena and Millennium Parade were a collaboration made in heaven. They flow together effortlessly and create a song that perfectly conveys the overall feeling of Hell’s Paradise. It is a rock song that doesn’t sound like it is from a show thanks to the pure talent on the track. The chorus of this song hits harder than almost any other chorus on this list, and it sticks with you.

7. “Cry Baby” - Official Hige Dandism

This is the opening song for Tokyo Revengers which is a time-traveling anime that deals with some pretty serious topics. Official Hige Dandism found a way to take how the main character is feeling and infuse it into a song. The beat is catchy, but not in a happy way. The beat gets stuck in your head and makes you feel things that other songs can’t. It is hard to find the right words to describe this song.

6. “Sincerely” - TRUE

Violet Evergarden is the most beautiful and impactful anime I have ever watched, and creating a song that could match that was no small feat. TRUE found a way to create a song that is just as emotional and beautiful as the show, and it has given me goosebumps every single time I have listened to it. When you combine the song with the visuals in the opening, it is a true work of art.

5. “Song Of The Dead” - KANA-BOON

This is the opening for Zom 100, and it is one of my favorite songs regardless of genre. It is fun and upbeat which is the opposite of what you would expect for a horror anime. The show has a unique concept that utilizes bright colors in place of the typical gray and red, and this band found a way to infuse bright colors into their song. Even though this song is called “Song of the Dead,” it is incredibly upbeat and will boost your mood no matter what kind of day you’re having.

4. “Black Catcher” & “Black Rover” - VK Blanka

I couldn’t pick just one song from VK Blanka when I decided to include him on this list. These are both openings from Black Clover, and they have the most interesting and catchy sound you will ever hear. Once you listen to these songs, they will be stuck in your head all day. If you have seen the anime then you know that it has a dark-but-chaotic vibe, and these songs embody that 100%.

3. “Run Sakamoto Run” - Vaundy

This track is for Netflix’s newest anime Sakamoto Days, and it not only fits the show perfectly but Vaundy also includes the sound of a gun cocking as part of the beat. Vaundy is one of the most talented people on this list as he is not only a singer, but he also produces and composes songs for other artists and anime. His sound is unique and always adjusts to fit the show in a way that many other opening songs don’t.

2. “Zankyosanka” - Aimer

Demon Slayer has some of the best openings in all of anime, but Aimer’s opening is by far my favorite. The music fits the show so perfectly especially since it is introduced to us at the beginning of the Entertainment District Arc. This song blends perfectly with the opening scenes making it one of the best openings of all time. Aimer is one of the most seasoned anison artists on this list. She has done songs for Chainsaw Man, Fire Force, Vinland Saga, and Fate / Stay Night.

1. “ReawakeR” - LiSA fet Felix of Stray Kids

This is the opening for the newest season of Solo Leveling, and it is incredible. The music itself is some of the best I have heard in an opening, but the sound of Felix and LiSA’s voices when they sing together is what makes this song so impactful. LiSA is a seasoned anison artist and has done openings for Demon Slayer, Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective, Shangri-La Frontier, Sword Art Online, and Fate / Zero just to name a few. She is not the same Lisa from Black Pink.

You can listen to all of these songs and more on my playlist below!